2 Then G1161 the twelve G1427 called G4341 the multitude G4128 of the disciples G3101 unto them, and said, G2036 It is G2076 not G3756 reason G701 that we G2248 should leave G2641 the word G3056 of God, G2316 and serve G1247 tables. G5132
And I spake H559 unto you at that time, H6256 saying, H559 I am not able H3201 to bear H5375 you myself alone: H905 The LORD H3068 your God H430 hath multiplied H7235 you, and, behold, ye are this day H3117 as the stars H3556 of heaven H8064 for multitude. H7230 (The LORD H3068 God H430 of your fathers H1 make you a thousand H505 times H6471 so many more as H3254 ye are, and bless H1288 you, as he hath promised H1696 you!) How H349 can I myself alone bear H5375 your cumbrance, H2960 and your burden, H4853 and your strife? H7379 Take H3051 you wise H2450 men, H582 and understanding, H995 and known H3045 among your tribes, H7626 and I will make H7760 them rulers H7218 over you. And ye answered H6030 me, and said, H559 The thing H1697 which thou hast spoken H1696 is good H2896 for us to do. H6213
And Moses' H4872 father in law H2859 said H559 unto him, The thing H1697 that thou doest H6213 is not good. H2896 Thou wilt surely H5034 wear away, H5034 both thou, and this people H5971 that is with thee: for this thing H1697 is too heavy H3515 for thee; thou art not able H3201 to perform H6213 it thyself alone. Hearken H8085 now unto my voice, H6963 I will give thee counsel, H3289 and God H430 shall be H1961 with thee: Be thou for the people H5971 to God-ward, H4136 H430 that thou mayest bring H935 the causes H1697 unto God: H430 And thou shalt teach H2094 H853 them ordinances H2706 and laws, H8451 and shalt shew H3045 them the way H1870 wherein they must walk, H3212 and the work H4639 that they must do. H6213 Moreover thou shalt provide H2372 out of all the people H5971 able H2428 men, H582 such as fear H3373 God, H430 men H582 of truth, H571 hating H8130 covetousness; H1215 and place H7760 such over them, to be rulers H8269 of thousands, H505 and rulers H8269 of hundreds, H3967 rulers H8269 of fifties, H2572 and rulers H8269 of tens: H6235 And let them judge H8199 the people H5971 at all seasons: H6256 and it shall be, that every great H1419 matter H1697 they shall bring H935 unto thee, but every small H6996 matter H1697 they shall judge: H8199 so shall it be easier H7043 for thyself, and they shall bear H5375 the burden with thee. If thou shalt do H6213 this thing, H1697 and God H430 command H6680 thee so, then thou shalt be able H3201 to endure, H5975 and all this people H5971 shall also go H935 to their place H4725 in peace. H7965 So Moses H4872 hearkened H8085 to the voice H6963 of his father in law, H2859 and did H6213 all that he had said. H559 And Moses H4872 chose H977 able H2428 men H582 out of all Israel, H3478 and made H5414 them heads H7218 over the people, H5971 rulers H8269 of thousands, H505 rulers H8269 of hundreds, H3967 rulers H8269 of fifties, H2572 and rulers H8269 of tens. H6235 And they judged H8199 the people H5971 at all seasons: H6256 the hard H7186 causes H1697 they brought H935 unto Moses, H4872 but every small H6996 matter H1697 H1992 they judged H8199 themselves.
And Moses H4872 said H559 unto the LORD, H3068 Wherefore hast thou afflicted H7489 thy servant? H5650 and wherefore have I not found H4672 favour H2580 in thy sight, H5869 that thou layest H7760 the burden H4853 of all this people H5971 upon me? Have I conceived H2029 all this people? H5971 have I begotten H3205 them, that thou shouldest say H559 unto me, Carry H5375 them in thy bosom, H2436 as a nursing father H539 beareth H5375 the sucking child, H3243 unto the land H127 which thou swarest H7650 unto their fathers? H1 Whence H370 should I have flesh H1320 to give H5414 unto all this people? H5971 for they weep H1058 unto me, saying, H559 Give H5414 us flesh, H1320 that we may eat. H398
Worthy.Bible » Commentaries » Matthew Henry Commentary » Commentary on Acts 6
Commentary on Acts 6 Matthew Henry Commentary
Chapter 6
In this chapter we have,
Act 6:1-7
Having seen the church's struggles with her enemies, and triumphed with her in her victories, we now come to take a view of the administration of her affairs at home; and here we have,
Act 6:8-15
Stephen, no doubt was diligent and faithful in the discharge of his office as distributor of the church's charity, and laid out himself to put that affair in a good method, which he did to universal satisfaction; and though it appears here that he was a man of uncommon gifts, and fitted for a higher station, yet, being called to that office, he did not think it below him to do the duty of it. And, being faithful in a little, he was entrusted with more; and, though we do not find him propagating the gospel by preaching and baptizing, yet we find him here called out to very honourable services, and owned in them.